HARTFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT
CANINE PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AGREEMENT
This is a Canine Program Implementation Agreement, hereinafter referred to as the
“Agreement”, between the City of Hartford Police Department, hereinafter referred to as the
“Department”, Officer Nate Dorn, hereinafter referred to as “Officer Dorn”, and AFSCME Local
1432-A, hereinafter referred to as the “Union”. The purpose of this agreement is the
establishment of special terms and conditions of employment as the Hartford Police
Department’s canine handler.
This document embodies a written agreement of the entire understanding and mutual agreement
of the parties and supersedes all prior verbal agreements between the parties hereto concerning
canine handler duties.
The parties agree that to the extent that any provision addressing terms and conditions of
employment as the canine handler found outside the agreement and that are in conflict thereof,
this agreement will prevail.
If, during the term of the Agreement, the parties should mutually agree to modify, amend, or
alter the provisions of this Agreement in any respect, any such change shall be effective only if
and when reduced to writing and executed by the authorized representatives of the parties. Any
such changes validly made shall become part of this agreement and subject to its terms.
The parties understand and agree that this compensation is intended to compensate canine
officers for all duty hours spent.
The Department agrees to implement a canine program established, maintained, and supported
by private contributions raised by the department staff and special projects. The Department
agrees to assign the canine duties to Officer Dorn. The Department reserves the right to
discontinue such assignment or reassign such duties to another department employee as
determined by the Chief of Police. Officer Dorn agrees to turn over all monies, donations,
materials, equipment and the canine to the department should the canine duties be reassigned, as
the department will remain the sole owner of all property, equipment, and supplies utilized in the
canine program.
The Department agrees to utilize all donated canine program funds, food items, and/or other
equipment items for the upkeep of the canine, including necessary equipment, veterinary care,
and housing needs. The canine officer is not personally responsible for these expenses. The
department reserves the right to discontinue the canine program at any time. In the event the
program were to be discontinued all materials, equipment, money, and property donated to or
used by the canine program shall be returned to the department.
The Department agrees to pay the cost of operating and mechanically maintaining the canine
squad car as a fleet vehicle for the purposes of patrolling, training, call out, court or any use
related to department business as determined by the Chief of Police. Officer Dorn agrees that the
canine squad will not be used for purposes not related to official department business.
Officer Dorn’s regular shift assignment will be determined in accordance with the existing labor
agreement. The department reserves the right to re-assign him for special assignments to
perform canine duties at times that meet the needs of the department.
The Department agrees to allow Officer Dorn to attend required canine training programs to
maintain appropriate certifications as necessary.
The Department agrees to allow Officer Dorn to exercise/train the canine for up to one half (1/2)
hour during each normal full work shift, activity permitting as determined by a Supervisor.
The Department agrees to compensate Officer Dorn for the extra “off the clock” canine-related
work performed including time spent feeding, exercising, training, grooming, obtaining any
required veterinary care, administering medicine, and cleaning up after the police dog. Officer
Dorn’s normal workday will consist of 8 hours of normal duties and one half (1/2) hour of
compensatory time off, taken at the end of his shift. If call load prohibits letting Officer Dorn
leave early, overtime will be paid at one and one half (1 ½) time for the time worked over 8
hours. On Officer Dorn’s off days he will be compensated with one half (1/2) hour of
compensatory time off at straight time, to the extent that those hours do not exceed 86 hours
worked in a 14 day work period. Hours in excess of 86 total work hours in a 14 day pay period
will be compensated at a rate of one and one half time (1 ½). All parties agree that this
arrangement is based on the average number of hours required by canine handlers to perform
these duties at other departments, and that it represents a reasonable estimate of the actual time
that will be spent performing canine related duties “off the clock”.
The Department agrees to pay overtime rates agreed to in the current labor agreement for call
outs that require Officer Dorn to respond to the station during his off time to perform canine
duties.
Officer Dorn understands and agrees that his primary function is that of a Police Officer assigned
to the Patrol Division. In addition to canine duties, Officer Dorn and the Department agree that
he must maintain acceptable performance standards for a Police Officer. Officer Dorn and the
department further agree that failure to do so can result in reassignment of the canine and Officer
Dorn’s removal from any and all canine responsibilities.
The canine assigned to Officer Dorn remains the sole property of the Hartford Police Department
during its working service life and is subject to regulations and conditions which the Chief of
Police deems to be in the best interest of the department and the canine.
The Department agrees to give Officer Dorn the first option to purchase the canine from the
department if the program is discontinued. The purchase price shall be $6,000 beginning in
2011. The price shall be reduced $1000.00 for each calendar year after the canine is placed into
service. If the canine becomes physically or medically disabled, or upon retirement of the canine,
the department agrees to place the animal with Officer Dorn at no cost if he wishes to retain the
canine. Disability will be determined mutually by Officer Dorn, the treating veterinarian, and
the Chief of Police. All other canine program equipment will remain the property of the
Hartford Police Department, when the program is discontinued for this, or any other reason.
The Parties agree to meet at the one year anniversary of this Agreement to discuss and mutually
agree to changes in this agreement that need to be made regarding compensation issues.
If any provision of this Agreement should be found invalid, unconstitutional, unlawful, or
unenforceable by reason of any existing or subsequently enacted constitutional or legislative
provision, the invalid portion of the agreement shall be severed; all other provisions of the
agreement shall remain in full force and effect for the duration of the Agreement.
In the event that any provision of the Agreement should be found invalid for any reason, the
parties agree to meet and confer in a timely manner in an attempt to negotiate a substitute
provision. Such negotiations shall apply only to the severed provision of the agreement and shall
not in any way modify or impact the remaining provisions of the existing Agreement.
Any equipment needed by Officer Dorn to fulfill the duties of the K-9 Officer will not establish
any precedent for any other officer within the Department.
The parties will work together to insure a smooth transition of this position within the
department.
This Agreement will not establish any practice or precedent.
This Agreement is contingent upon: Sufficient program funding through community donations,
the department and AFSCME 1432-A successfully agreeing to a compensatory time
arrangement, and Officer Dorn’s continued employment with the City of Hartford Police
Department.
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Officer Nate Dorn, K-9 Officer
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Officer Russ Wegner, President AFSCME 1432-A
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David A. Groves, Chief of Police
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Gary Koppelberger, City Administrator
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